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IN A COMPLEX PATERNITY CASE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS ORDER PRECLUDING CHILD FROM ESTABLISHING ESTOPPEL AND FINDING PETITIONER HAD STANDING TO SEEK CUSTODY AND VISITATION PROPERLY GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a complex paternity case spanning eight years, over a comprehensive dissent, determined the order precluding the child, G, from establishing estoppel and finding that petitioner had standing to seek custody and visitation was properly granted. The facts cannot be fairly summarized here:

,,, [T]here is no basis to apply the [estoppel] doctrine here, where petitioner has consistently and diligently asserted his paternity; attempted to visit the hospital in time for G.’s birth; attempted to support G. financially; commenced proceedings and consistently appeared in court by telephone or in person, as he was able. By contrast, JAC [mother’s partner who acknowledged paternity] failed to appear in court in person after September 21, 2011, and failed to appear by his counsel or any other means in any proceeding after June 18, 2012. Moreover, any delay in bringing the paternity proceedings to a conclusion is not attributable to petitioner, but to respondent and JAC, who failed to appear in court on numerous occasions, and to the AFC [attorney for the child], who waited three years before challenging the 2012 estoppel order.

Moreover, contrary to our dissenting colleague’s view, this is not a case where a man may be estopped from claiming to be a child’s biological father on the basis of his acquiescence to the establishment of a strong parent-child bond between the child and another man … . Here, petitioner’s efforts to establish his paternity were far from acquiescent. Petitioner sought, and was granted, leave to postpone commencement of his prison sentence for one month in order to allow him to be present at G.’s birth. When he arrived in New York on October 9, 2008 for that purpose, he called respondent’s mother, who told him that his daughter had been born but did not disclose the hospital in which the birth had taken place. He was then contacted by JAC, who made clear to him that petitioner should have nothing to do with G. Undaunted by these incidents, upon entering prison, he attempted to send money orders to respondent which he intended for G.’s support, but the money orders were returned to him. While still in prison, he commenced the instant paternity proceeding, consistently appearing before the court by telephone and, upon his release from prison in July 2011, in person. And, approximately one month after the June 2012 estoppel ruling was issued, petitioner commenced the custody/visitation proceeding, repeatedly appearing in person and ultimately hiring private counsel in that proceeding, as well. Matter of Michael S. v Sultana R., 2018 NY Slip Op 05404, First Dept 7-19-18

FAMILY LAW (IN A COMPLEX PATERNITY CASE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS ORDER PRECLUDING CHILD FROM ESTABLISHING ESTOPPEL AND FINDING PETITIONER HAD STANDING TO SEEK CUSTODY AND VISITATION PROPERLY GRANTED (FIRST DEPT))/PATERNITY (IN A COMPLEX PATERNITY CASE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS ORDER PRECLUDING CHILD FROM ESTABLISHING ESTOPPEL AND FINDING PETITIONER HAD STANDING TO SEEK CUSTODY AND VISITATION PROPERLY GRANTED (FIRST DEPT))/ESTOPPEL (FAMILY LAW, PATERNITY, IN A COMPLEX PATERNITY CASE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS ORDER PRECLUDING CHILD FROM ESTABLISHING ESTOPPEL AND FINDING PETITIONER HAD STANDING TO SEEK CUSTODY AND VISITATION PROPERLY GRANTED (FIRST DEPT))

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CHILD’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT WHEN MOTHER FAILED TO APPEAR AT AN EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL HEARING IN THIS PATERNITY AND CUSTODY PROCEEDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined Family Court abused its discretion when it dismissed an equitable estoppel hearing in a paternity and custody proceeding when mother failed to appear and the child requested an adjournment:

Despite the fact that the mother had appeared on all prior court dates, and was in the middle of her testimony at the hearing, the Family Court denied the child’s request for an adjournment, and instead directed dismissal of the petition for failure to prosecute. The child, Malachi S., appeals. …

Here, as the child and the mother correctly contend, the request for an adjournment was reasonable and there was no indication of intentional default or willful abandonment. Under these circumstances, the Family Court improvidently exercised its discretion in directing the dismissal of the petition for failure to prosecute rather than granting the child’s request for an adjournment … . Matter of Simmons v Ford, 2018 NY Slip Op 05176, Second Dept 7-11-18

​FAMILY LAW (CHILD’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT WHEN MOTHER FAILED TO APPEAR AT AN EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL HEARING IN THIS PATERNITY AND CUSTODY PROCEEDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT))/ADJOURNMENT (FAMILY LAW, CHILD’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT WHEN MOTHER FAILED TO APPEAR AT AN EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL HEARING IN THIS PATERNITY AND CUSTODY PROCEEDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT))/PATERNITY  (CHILD’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT WHEN MOTHER FAILED TO APPEAR AT AN EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL HEARING IN THIS PATERNITY AND CUSTODY PROCEEDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT))/CUSTODY (FAMILY LAW, CHILD’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT WHEN MOTHER FAILED TO APPEAR AT AN EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL HEARING IN THIS PATERNITY AND CUSTODY PROCEEDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT))

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PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department reversed the dismissal, by a Referee, of the petition brought seeking joint custody of children born to respondent, with whom petitioner had had a romantic relationship, on the basis of an agreement that petitioner and respondent would raise the children as a family. The court noted that a dismissal pursuant to CPLR 4401 for failure to make out a prima facie case can not take into account credibility determinations:

Petitioner commenced this proceeding seeking joint custody of, and visitation with, the five subject children, all of whom were born to respondent and conceived by the implantation of fertilized eggs. With respect to her standing to commence this proceeding, petitioner alleged that she and respondent had previously been involved in a romantic relationship, and that they entered into an agreement to raise and co-parent the child that was alive when the parties met. Petitioner further alleged that, prior to the conception of the younger four children, the parties also agreed that respondent would conceive additional children and the parties would jointly raise them as a family. The Referee granted a hearing on the issue of petitioner’s standing to seek custody of the children, at which petitioner’s testimony was consistent with the petition. … At the conclusion of petitioner’s case, the Referee granted respondent’s motion pursuant to CPLR 4401 to dismiss the petition. …

… “[I]n determining a motion to dismiss for failure to establish a prima facie case, the evidence must be accepted as true and given the benefit of every reasonable inference which may be drawn therefrom . . . The question of credibility is irrelevant, and should not be considered” … .

Here, the Referee made credibility determinations and weighed the probative value of the evidence in making a determination on the motion to dismiss. Consequently, we reverse the order, reinstate the petition and remit the matter to Family Court to determine, after a full hearing, whether petitioner, by clear and convincing evidence, has established with respect to the four younger children that she “has agreed with the biological parent of the child[ren] to conceive and raise [them] as co-parents” … , and whether, despite being a “partner without such an agreement [she] can establish standing” with respect to the older child … . Matter of deMarc v Goodyear, 2018 NY Slip Op 05095, Fourth Dept 7-6-18

FAMILY LAW (PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT))/CUSTODY (FAMILY LAW, PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT)))CIVIL PROCEDURE (PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT))/CPLR 4401  (PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT))/STANDING (FAMILY LAW, CUSTODY, PETITION BY A FORMER ROMANTIC PARTNER SEEKING JOINT CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BORN TO RESPONDENT BASED UPON AN ALLEGED AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE CHILDREN AS A FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY THE REFEREE FOR FAILURE TO MAKE OUT A PRIMA FACIE CASE, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN A MOTION PURSUANT TO CPLR 4401 (FOURTH DEPT))

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FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court in this contempt and modification of custody proceeding, determined Family Court should not have allowed father to represent himself without first making an inquiry to ensure father understood the consequences of going forward without an attorney. Although Family Court informed father that he should obtain counsel because he was misconstruing the law, and father was represented when the hearing resumed, one of the witnesses examined by father pro se was not recalled for examination by father’s attorney:

“A waiver of the right to counsel must be explicit and intentional, and the court must assure that it is made knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily”… . Thus, the hearing court must “perform a searching inquiry to determine whether a party is aware of the dangers and disadvantages of proceeding without counsel, which might include inquiry into the party’s age, education, occupation, previous exposure to legal procedures and other relevant factors bearing on a competent, intelligent, voluntary waiver” … . …

Supreme Court erred by commencing the hearing without first ascertaining that the father was unequivocally waiving his right to counsel and, if so, conducting an inquiry into whether that waiver was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made … . Although one of the two witnesses who testified while the father was pro se ultimately was recalled after the father obtained counsel, and was subjected to direct and cross-examination for a second time, the other witness — the caseworker — was not recalled and her testimony supported both of the mother’s petitions. Furthermore, the violation of a party’s statutory right to counsel “requires reversal, without regard to the merits of the unrepresented party’s position” and, therefore, we need not consider whether the mother would have succeeded on her modification petition absent the caseworker’s testimony … . Matter of Hensley v DeMun, 2018 NY Slip Op 04995, Third Dept 7-5-18

​FAMILY LAW (ATTORNEYS, FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (FAMILY LAW,  FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT))/RIGHT TO COUNSEL (FAMILY LAW, FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT))/PRO SE (FAMILY LAW, FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT))/WAIVER (RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FAMILY LAW,  FAMILY COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY BEFORE ALLOWING FATHER TO PROCEED PRO SE REQUIRED REVERSAL, DESPITE FATHER’S BEING REPRESENTED WHEN THE HEARING CONTINUED (THIRD DEPT))

ALTHOUGH MOTHER VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER SUSPENDED JUDGMENT, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE TERMINATED HER PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHOUT A FINDING, BASED UPON A HEARING, THAT TERMINATION WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined that although mother violated the terms of her suspended judgment, her parental rights should not have been terminated without a finding, based upon a hearing, that termination was in the best interests of the child:

A suspended judgment is intended to provide a parent who has permanently neglected his or her child with a brief period within which to become a fit parent that the child can be returned to in safety … . “A parent’s noncompliance with the terms of the suspended judgment during this grace period, if established by a preponderance of the evidence, may end with revocation of the suspended judgment and termination of his or her parental rights”… .

Family Court determined, and we agree, that numerous violations of the terms of the suspended judgment were established by a preponderance of the evidence. …

… [V]iolations that could warrant a revocation of the suspended judgment and termination of parental rights do not automatically have that effect… . It is instead the best interests of the child, which is “relevant at all stages of a permanent neglect proceeding, including at the revocation of a suspended judgment,” that determines the appropriate disposition … . Family Court did not make a best interests finding and, absent hearing evidence relating to “the child[]’s present circumstances and relationship with [respondent] and the effect upon the[] [child] of the termination of [respondent’s] parental rights and [the child’s] potential adoption,” it is unclear how Family Court could have done so … . Matter of Cecilia P. (Carlenna Q.), 2018 NY Slip Op 04993, Third Dept 7-5-18

​FAMILY LAW (PARENTAL RIGHTS, ALTHOUGH MOTHER VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER SUSPENDED JUDGMENT, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE TERMINATED HER PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHOUT A FINDING, BASED UPON A HEARING, THAT TERMINATION WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (THIRD DEPT))/PARENTAL RIGHTS (ALTHOUGH MOTHER VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER SUSPENDED JUDGMENT, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE TERMINATED HER PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHOUT A FINDING, BASED UPON A HEARING, THAT TERMINATION WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (THIRD DEPT))/SUSPENDED JUDGMENTS (FAMILY LAW, PARENTAL RIGHTS,  ALTHOUGH MOTHER VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER SUSPENDED JUDGMENT, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE TERMINATED HER PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHOUT A FINDING, BASED UPON A HEARING, THAT TERMINATION WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (THIRD DEPT))/NEGLECT (FAMILY LAW, PARENTAL RIGHTS,  ALTHOUGH MOTHER VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER SUSPENDED JUDGMENT, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE TERMINATED HER PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHOUT A FINDING, BASED UPON A HEARING, THAT TERMINATION WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (THIRD DEPT))

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COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the court attorney referee was not authorized to determine a contested family offense petition or custody and visitation issues:

A referee derives authority from an order of reference by the court (see CPLR 4311, 4317…). Here, as correctly asserted by the mother, the order of reference did not authorize the Court Attorney Referee to hear and report or to hear and determine a contested family offense petition. The Court Attorney Referee therefore lacked jurisdiction to dismiss the mother’s family offense petition in this instance… . Accordingly, the family offense matter must be remitted to a judge of the Family Court for a new determination.

With respect to the determination of custody, the order of reference recited that, upon the parties’ stipulation, a court attorney referee is authorized to hear and determine the parties’ rights to custody of and visitation with the child, including the determination of motions and temporary orders of custody. Upon our review of the record, however, we find no indication that the parties stipulated to the reference in the manner prescribed by CPLR 2104, and, absent such stipulation, the Court Attorney Referee had the power only to hear and report her findings … . We further find that the mother did not consent to the reference merely by participating in the proceeding without expressing her desire to have the matter tried before a judge … . The order of reference must therefore be deemed an order to hear and report. Thus, the Court Attorney Referee had no jurisdiction to determine, but only to hear and report, with respect to the parties’ respective rights of custody and visitation … . Matter of Rose v Simon, 2018 NY Slip Op 04736, Second Dept 6-27-18

​FAMILY LAW (COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT))/CIVIL PROCEDURE (FAMILY LAW, COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT))/CPLR 4311, 4317, 2104 (FAMILY LAW, COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT))/COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE (FAMILY LAW, COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT))/REFEREES  (FAMILY LAW, COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT))

AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged, comprehensive opinion by Justice Gische, determined the issue of whether KG, on equitable estoppel grounds, had standing to seek custody of a child adopted by her former same-sex partner, CH, required remittal because the issue was not considered by Supreme Court. The couple had an agreement to raise an adopted child. The First Department found ample support in the record for Supreme Court’s factual finding that the agreement was terminated when the couple’s relationship dissolved before the child was adopted. The fact that the agreement was deemed terminated did not, however, prohibit the court from considering whether CH was equitably estopped from denying that KG had standing to seek custody:

Although prior to Brooke [28 NY3d 1] the doctrine of equitable estoppel was not available to establish standing on behalf of nonbiological, nonadoptive parents, it has been relied upon by New York courts in resolving many family disputes involving children. For instance, the legal doctrine has been applied to prevent an adult from denying paternity where a child has justifiably relied upon the representations of a man that he is the father and a parent-child relationship has developed … ,It has also been applied to prevent a biological father from asserting paternity when he has acquiesced in the establishment of a strong parent-child bond between the child and another man … . Recently, it was successfully invoked to prevent a sperm donor from asserting paternity to a child born in an intact marriage … . A unifying characteristic of these cases is the protection of ” the status interests of a child in an already recognized and operative parent-child relationship'” … . Equitable estoppel requires careful scrutiny of the child’s relationship with the relevant adult and is ultimately based upon the best interest of the child … . Likewise, in the context of standing under Domestic Relations Law § 70, equitable estoppel concerns whether a child has a bonded and de facto parental relationship with a nonbiological, nonadoptive adult. The focus is and must be on the child … . It is for this reason that the child’s point of view is crucial whenever equitable estoppel is raised. * * *

We recognize that not every loving relationship that a child has with an adult will confer standing under Domestic Relations Law § 70, no matter how close or committed. It requires a relationship that demonstrates the relevant adult’s permanent, unequivocal, committed and responsible parental role in the child’s life. The underpinning of an equitable estoppel inquiry is whether the actual relationship between the child and relevant adult rises to the level of parenthood. Anything less would interfere with the biological or adoptive parent’s right to decide with whom his or her child may associate … . Consent, whether express or implied, is an important consideration that bears upon the issue. It may be that in this case the issue of CH’s consent becomes a predominant consideration in the ultimate determination of whether equitable estoppel can be established. We only hold that the record developed at trial does not permit us to make the full consideration necessary to finally determine the issue of equitable estoppel at this point

Because the record on equitable estoppel is incomplete, we remand this matter for further proceedings consistent with this decision. Matter of K.G. v C.H., 2018 NY Slip Op 04683, First Dept 6-26-18

​FAMILY LAW (AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL (FAMILY LAW, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/CUSTODY (/PAREAN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/STANDING (FAMILY LAW, CUSTODY, PARENT, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/PARENT (CUSTODY, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/SAME-SEX PARTNERS (FAMILY LAW, PARENT, CUSTODY, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/ADOPTION (PARENT, SAME-SEX PARTNERS, CUSTODY, STANDING, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))/DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAW (PARENT, SAME-SEX PARTNERS, CUSTODY, STANDING, AN ADOPTIVE PARENT MAY BE EQUITABLY ESTOPPED FROM DENYING THAT HER FORMER SAME-SEX PARTNER, WITH WHOM SHE HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A CHILD, HAS STANDING TO SEEK JOINT CUSTODY, MATTER REMITTED FOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE ON AND CONSIDERATION OF THAT ISSUE (FIRST DEPT))

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ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S MARKING AN ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES REPORT AS ‘INDICATED’ FOR MALTREATMENT OF PETITIONER’S CHILD HAD A RATIONAL BASIS AND SHOULD STAND, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, over an extensive dissenting opinion, determined that the administrative law judge’s (ALJ’s) marking a NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) report as “indicated” for maltreatment of petitioner’s (Natasha’s) child had a rational basis. Natasha had used her five-year-old child as a pawn in a shoplifting scheme. Natasha had an unblemished record and was pursuing a degree in early childhood education. The “indicated” designation will probably make it impossible for Natasha to find work in the childhood education field:

… [I]t was rational for the Administrative Law Judge to have concluded that the child was placed in imminent risk of impairment, constituting maltreatment … , and that petitioner’s actions are reasonably related to employment in the childcare field… ). The act in question — specifically, using the child as a pawn in a shoplifting scheme — “was sufficiently egregious so as to create an imminent risk of physical, mental[,] and emotional harm to the child” … . There is imminent potential for physical confrontation during a theft from a department store monitored by security. Moreover, … under the circumstances presented here, “utilizing a child to commit a crime and teaching a child that such behavior is acceptable must have an immediate impact on that child’s emotional and mental well-being,” particularly where, as here, the child is “young [and] just learning to differentiate between right and wrong” … . Likewise, the Administrative Law Judge rationally concluded that petitioner’s actions are reasonably related to employment in the childcare field “[a]s a matter of common sense” … . Matter of Natasha W. v New York State Off. of Children & Family Servs., 2018 NY Slip Op 04379, CtApp 6-14-18

FAMILY LAW (CHILD MALTREATMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S MARKING AN ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES REPORT AS ‘INDICATED’ FOR MALTREATMENT OF PETITIONER’S CHILD HAD A RATIONAL BASIS AND SHOULD STAND, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED (CT APP))/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (FAMILY LAW, CHILD MALTREATMENT,  ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S MARKING AN ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES REPORT AS ‘INDICATED’ FOR MALTREATMENT OF PETITIONER’S CHILD HAD A RATIONAL BASIS AND SHOULD STAND, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED (CT APP))/ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES ( ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S MARKING AN ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES REPORT AS ‘INDICATED’ FOR MALTREATMENT OF PETITIONER’S CHILD HAD A RATIONAL BASIS AND SHOULD STAND, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED (CT APP))/MALTREATMENT (FAMILY LAW, CHILDREN, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S MARKING AN ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES REPORT AS ‘INDICATED’ FOR MALTREATMENT OF PETITIONER’S CHILD HAD A RATIONAL BASIS AND SHOULD STAND, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED (CT APP))

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TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON ABANDONMENT REVERSED, AGENCY DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING FATHER, WHO WAS INCARCERATED, FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHILD DURING THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, in a brief memorandum decision, determined the petitioner agency did not meet its burden of demonstrating father, who was incarcerated, had abandoned his child:

An order terminating parental rights may be entered upon the ground that a child’s parent “abandoned such child for the period of six months immediately prior to the date on which the petition is filed in the court” … . A child is “abandoned” within the meaning of Social Services Law § 384-b, if the “parent evinces an intent to forego his or her parental rights and obligations as manifested by his or her failure to visit the child and  communicate with the child or agency, although able to do so and not prevented or discouraged from doing so by the agency” … . Parents are presumed able to visit and communicate with their children and, although incarcerated parents may be unable to visit, they are still presumed able to communicate with their children absent proof to the contrary … .

The petitioner agency bears the burden of proving abandonment by clear and convincing evidence… . Here, petitioner’s caseworker testified that respondent—who was incarcerated—did not visit with the child or communicate with the caseworker or other agency personnel in the six months preceding the filing of the abandonment petition. However, the record is bereft of evidence establishing that respondent failed to communicate with the child, directly or through the child’s foster parent, during the relevant time period. Thus, petitioner did not meet its burden of demonstrating, by clear and convincing evidence, that respondent abandoned the child. Matter of Mason H. (Joseph H.), 2018 NY Slip Op 04384, CtApp 6-14-18

FAMILY LAW (PARENTAL RIGHTS, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON ABANDONMENT REVERSED, AGENCY DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING FATHER, WHO WAS INCARCERATED, FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHILD DURING THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING (CT APP))/PARENTAL RIGHTS (TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON ABANDONMENT REVERSED, AGENCY DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING FATHER, WHO WAS INCARCERATED, FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHILD DURING THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING (CT APP))/ABANDONMENT (FAMILY LAW, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON ABANDONMENT REVERSED, AGENCY DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING FATHER, WHO WAS INCARCERATED, FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHILD DURING THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING (CT APP))/TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS (ABANDONMENT, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON ABANDONMENT REVERSED, AGENCY DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING FATHER, WHO WAS INCARCERATED, FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHILD DURING THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING (CT APP))

,

FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED THE PETITION RE THE CHILD’S SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS WITHOUT HOLDING A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER REUNITING THE CHILD WITH MOTHER WAS NOT VIABLE DUE TO NEGLECT OR ABANDONMENT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department ruled that Family Court should have held a hearing to determine whether the child could be reunited with his mother in order to further determine whether to make the findings necessary for the child to apply for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS):

… [B]ased upon our independent factual review … , we find that the record establishes that the child meets the age and marital status requirements for special immigrant status, and the dependency requirement has been satisfied by the granting of the father’s guardianship petition … . Further, we determine that it would not be in the best interests of the child to be returned to El Salvador, where gang members had threatened to kill him and his sister … . However, the record is insufficient to determine whether reunification with the mother is not viable due to parental neglect or abandonment … .

Accordingly, we reverse the order, and remit the matter to the Family Court, Nassau County, for a hearing on the issue of whether reunification with the mother is not viable due to parental neglect or abandonment, and a new determination thereafter of the father’s motion for the issuance of an order, inter alia, making specific findings so as to enable the child to petition for SIJS … . Matter of A.M.G. v Gladis A.G., 2018 NY Slip Op 04321, Second Dept 6-13-18

​FAMILY LAW (SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED THE PETITION RE THE CHILD’S SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS WITHOUT HOLDING A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER REUNITING THE CHILD WITH MOTHER WAS NOT VIABLE DUE TO NEGLECT OR ABANDONMENT (SECOND DEPT))/SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED THE PETITION RE THE CHILD’S SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS WITHOUT HOLDING A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER REUNITING THE CHILD WITH MOTHER WAS NOT VIABLE DUE TO NEGLECT OR ABANDONMENT (SECOND DEPT))/IMMIGRATION LAW (FAMILY LAW, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS, FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED THE PETITION RE THE CHILD’S SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS WITHOUT HOLDING A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER REUNITING THE CHILD WITH MOTHER WAS NOT VIABLE DUE TO NEGLECT OR ABANDONMENT (SECOND DEPT))

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